mgpc is amazingly supportive of Gospel ministry. Their support and encouragment is both humbling and empowering. That’s why I can write this. Besides, we’re only as faithful as our next challenge. And maybe others can benefit from it.
It’s not about change, it’s about mission.
The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a mission focussed body. We have been commissioned by Jesus to reach out with the message of the Gospel to those who are not Christians and to train, equip and encourage those who are. That’s it.
It doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy life, work, love and play. But is does mean that individually and corporately our mission comes first.
That means we need to be flexible and thoughtful about everything we do, and the way that we do them. For instance, gathering to worship God is what we have to do. Doing it in Latin (or any other language that no-one in the room understands) is neither helpful in communicating the Gospel or instructive in helping Christians grow.
As a minister of the Gospel, a pastor leading a local church, I’ve got a shopping list of things that I believe need to change in the life of the church I serve. These are changes that I have come to believe will make us more effective in our capacity to share the Gospel and will see the folk grow in Christ-likeness. As pastor, these are changes that are shared with the other leaders of the church, and as I listen to them, we refine and seek to implement. I haven’t found it much different in any other church.
If a pastor can’t think of any changes that need to be made in the church they’re serving, it’s time to move on. Seriously.
Often when changes are suggested or implemented people will make a comment indicating acceptance and then saying something like “We need to keep the young people happy.” Or the families happy. Sometimes the idea will be rejected in order to keep the older people happy.
Personally, I can guarantee that no change I’ve ever sought to make is about making people happy. Or unhappy. They’re about making us better communicators of the gospel and helping Christians grow. (I know I’m repeating myself.)
In any case, this is not about younger people. We actually have a higher number of older people attending our church now that we previously had. We also have higher numbers of all our other age groups. These folk come and stay because we are faithful to the Bible and are trying to love and support one another.
This is not a slam on older folk either. Senior folk have lives that are subject to all sorts of change, much of it painful and marked by loss. Anyone who says old people can’t change doesn’t know any. What older folk want is a measure of stability and continuity. But we all have to accept, as Christians, that our stability and continuity is in the Gospel, not our structures, buildings, traditions, furnishings, songs or group meetings. Besides, younger folk can be inconsiderate and self-centered as well. In some cases they’re actually much better at it.
That’s why I’ve been so humbled at the way in which mgpc have embraced change. If the only reason change was accepted was for the sake of others, resentments and divisions would soon arrive. I like to think we are actually growing in relationships with each other and the sacrificial and considerate way in which the changes we have made have been accepted and implemented have helped this. But, as I said at the top of this article, we have to keep making the choice. If we don’t love people, sooner or later we’ll start loving things. That’s the death of Gospel ministry and living.
So next time a change is brought forward for implementation and someone says “Why do we have to change in order to keep someone happy?”, the answer will be “We’re not, we’re doing it so we can bring the Gospel to others and encourage our Christian growth. We’re doing it to keep Jesus happy.”
After all, it’s His church. Not ours.
It’s not about change, it’s about mission.
Thus ends the mild rant.
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